What tennis stars really think as controversial gender testing to start next week | Tennis | Sport

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) recently updated its women’s eligibility policy, requiring all players to undergo genetic sex testing “based on biological sex” to compete on tour. This is in line with the eligibility policy introduced by the International Olympic Committee ahead of the 2028 Games, and the screening is already used by World Athletics and World Boxing.

During the one-time test, players must provide a cheek swab, blood or saliva sample to test for the presence of the SRY gene, typically found on the Y chromosome, which indicates the development of male characteristics. They will only need to complete the test once in their lifetimes, and can compete if they receive a negative result. According to world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, the testing will start as early as next week at the Cincinnati Open.

But the introduction of this new rule on the WTA Tour has sparked some backlash. Two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff has accused some of using this new rule to “attack” the transgender community. Fans have also pointed out that there are no known transgender players at the top end of the pro tour. With the tests due to begin next week, Express Sport takes a look at what the players think about the new rule.

The world No. 4 has argued that there must be fairness in sport, while also acknowledging that some will use this updated policy to target the transgender community. Gauff also believes that the tour could have better handled the introduction of the testing.

“I mean, as far as, I guess, with that, I know it’s been something that’s been talked about a while. But I’ve talked to a couple other players, and a lot of them didn’t find out until the press release. So I do think that’s something that could have been more transparent amongst players across the tour,” she explained at this week’s Canadian Open.

“As far as that, I mean, I understand the reasoning behind it. I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity towards the trans community, which I’m not really a big fan of, but I also understand the need to, I guess, the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that. So I think it’s a conversation that is very nuanced. And it creates, causes, or I need to have a nuanced answer.

“So, yes, I guess I kind of agree with trying to protect the fairness in women’s sports. But I also do not like the attack that it is creating. People who don’t really care, but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community. So I’m not really a big fan of that either. So I don’t really know how to answer, really, this question in a way that people aren’t going to spin it. But as far as where I stand, I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need of creating fairness in sport too.”

The 11-time title winner is a member of the WTA Player Council and believes the policy was simply updated to fall in line with the IOC and other organisations. However, unlike Gauff, Pegula claims that the tour did properly inform players of the rollout. “My opinion is I think the WTA just wanted to update their policy based on what they have seen from other sporting organisations,” she said.

“So far, at least from my point of view, I don’t really have any pushback on it. I think I haven’t heard, even being on council, no players have really mentioned or said anything about it.

“Now that it’s been announced, I think we’ll see. Obviously, now that we are here in Toronto, a bigger tournament, and going into Cincy when the testing starts, we’ll see if there’s any more feedback. I think so far no one’s really said anything, and I think it’s more just the tour making a decision updating it, and it kind of is what it is.

“I think it’s Cincinnati is when it starts. We had to watch a video and do a whole thing to kind of, like a rollout of the education and why we’re doing it. It wasn’t just kind of laid on us, like, you have to do this. There was a lot of education and stuff in the background of all the stuff the players have had to do to learn about it.”

Earlier this week, the world No. 1 threw her support behind the new policy and said: “I think it’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour. It’s obviously, biologically, the men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would be not really fair for the woman to compete against [a] biological man.

“I believe it took them a little while to make this decision and, yeah, I support it. But for me, I’m focusing on myself, on my goals, you know, whatever it takes. If they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that, it’s pretty fair, and let’s keep it that way.”

The two-time Major winner suggested things were “fine” without the mandatory tests, but did confirm that the players had been given the opportunity to be properly educated on the policy. “I mean, I don’t know what to comment. If we got to do it, we will do it. For me, I won’t say it’s unnecessary, but I think it was, without these tests, also fine. But if we need to do it, we will do it,” she said.

Like Rybakina, the French Open champion also chose to focus on herself, but said she would follow any new rules. The teenager explained: “As of now, my focus is on playing my best on every tournament that I have. So, Toronto, Cincinnati, New York, every single tournament that I have to play. I’m completely okay with every rule that the WTA applies, and I will follow that.”

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